6:30Social Time/ Greetings and Introductions

7:00Announcements:

oNext EPIC Board Meeting will be March 4th,
2017, Saturday at the Park 10:00 am to 12:00 noon;

oNext EPIC
Community meetingwill be March 9th, 2017, Thursday at the
Park 6:30 to 8:45 pm.

oNominations
for the Board: Members
of East Phillips seeking election to the Board of Directors, whether nominated
by themselves or another, should pick up the eligibility papers, sign them and
turn them in to an EPIC Board member in the next few weeks.

oHiawatha Campus Open House-Saturday, Feb. 11th, 10:00 am
-11:30 am, East Phillips Park, Informational meeting about the
Hiawatha Campus Expansion at the site formerly known as the Roof Depot site.
Please join City of Mpls. Staff, CM Cano and Representative Clark to share
ideas; community should be engaged in this project.

oCPED New Housing Guidelines for vacant lots. A whole new way of dealing with
this has been developed, with new funds available, especially for the Phillips
neighborhoods. There will be a meeting on Friday morning 10:30-Noon at the Penn
Ave Urban League will focus on residents.

·Presentation and Q and A

Peter
McLaughlin

Reviewed the county’s contributions to Phillips
neighborhoods, and continue to invest in this neighborhood. Here to discuss two
bridges over the Midtown Greenway, one on Cedar and one on Portland. These are
both over 100 years old. We would usually stage this more separately, but
having to address large 35W reconstruction in 2018. There is no question that
this will be disruptive, but these bridges need to be replaced.

Dean Michlko

Discussed what the bridges will look like, how you will get
around during construction, what to expect. Six large illustrations were
provided. May 2017 the bridges will close; will reopen in December 2018. There
will be some minor closures of the Midtown Greenway for up to a week per time.
Will try to minimize the disruption, will set up roadway detours (Portland to
Lyndale; Cedar to Hiawatha). Trail detours are also planned (East 28th
Street; 5th Avenue). More details are available on the website. Current
bridge is a 3-span with 30’ spans. The corridor is listed on the National
Register of Historic Bridges. The 3-span look is very important to them. The
current piers are not actually structural requirements for the bridge. In spite
of drawings, plans include 3-span bridges; spans will be a bit wider than
current bridges.

Casey

Advantages by using a single contractor to coordinate the
construction at the same time. Closures will be limited in length. Will have to
do excavation to get the old bridge out; concerns about the effect of
construction on existing properties nearby the two sites. Original bridges were
built 1914-1916 and were low cost investments by the railroad. Improvements
planned include widening the bridge by 12 feet. This will expand the driving
lanes and the pedestrian sidewalks. Aesthetically, will work to make the bridge
blend in with the other bridges in the sightline. Been very busy since July
2016 working with design and will move quickly to select a contractor in March.

SHPO, CFU? Who are these orgs, and what do they
do?

·Q and A

Transitions: How will
you address transition from wider lanes to narrow lanes again? Plans
include making smooth transitions on each side of the bridge on Cedar
Avenue.

29th is a
major school bus route: will you set up something for safety for the
children? Will be sending out notifications about construction/contractors
are working north of 29th and shouldn’t have vehicles or other
construction equipment causing a problem.Need to give at least a month’s notice. Some buses come from cities
outside Minneapolis to pick up children (Edina, for example.)

26th St and
28th St are already super busy and have lots of traffic
congestion already.

In particular,
intersection at 18th St and Chicago.

Advance signage (2
weeks) will be put up notifying folks that the bridge will be closed.

Consider adding some
4-way stops to protect local traffic/vehicles. Will observe and react to
traffic problems, especially safety issues.

Concerns about large
city trucks, safety, how new traffic from City public works site will
impact neighborhood during bridge reconstruction. Have been working with
the city – meeting monthly – as planning has progressed.

Neighbors who use public
transit and Metro Mobility. What will happen with the buses? Haven’t seen
their plans. Metro Transit is aware of the plans, and

Suggestion: invite
traffic to visit EPIC next month.

Improved lighting;
steeper slopes will be lit, and lights will be provided on the trail. Plan
to eliminate the flat ledge at the slope/foundation.

How far down are the
footings for the right and left piers? Plan does accommodate possible
future streetcars, although not necessarily in the manner originally
expected.

-Update
$40,000 City Grant use of solar in challenged communities. - EPIC would like pay-as-you go $10,000 contract w/ Professional
Consultant Dean Dovolis

- Planning Group may seek organizer

EPIC has worked to be part of
the decision-making process for developing this site. We want to hire two
people to assist with this very challenging project. We have been battling the
city about the site, yet the city recently obtained a $40,000 City Grant on our
behalf.

The board of EPIC has
recommended that EPIC set aside $10,000 to pay Dean Dovolis to serve as a
consultant on how this site is developed. Dean has been working with CM Cano
and others, working along with EPIC all along.

MOTION(Withdrawn when 1st
vote at November GMM for $15,000 for review was pointed out): EPIC approves in
concept, the retaining of Dean Dovolis as a consultant, subject to presentation of a contractual agreement with the
neighborhood, not to exceed $10,000. PF, JB,

2nd VOTE, for Plan mod and
conformity with Bylaws: See November GMM.

MOTION: EPIC will offer up to $15,000 to DJR Architect to advise and consult
with EPIC on responding to EPIC’s interests and representing the needs and
interests of EPIC with regard to the roof depot design project. BP, LL, Approved.

8:15EPIC seeks
to lease Office at Welna's building,2433 Bloomington- We have determined what those structural issues are
and believe this is the closest thing to a real possibility we will find.

EPIC has been looking for an office in East Phillips
for 3 years. There is nothing that is handi-cap accessible. The board wants to
create this office space by raising funds to make this property accessible.

Recommended by the EPIC Board (BP seconded)MOTION: EPIC will secure a lease for the downstairs unit
of 2433Bloomington Ave. S. for up to $900/month as a
temporary EPIC office until it either finds the funding to make it accessible
or finds an alternate location for an EPIC office. Approved.

8:25Karen Clark
Updates

No bonding bill last year or the
year before; nothing being spent for two years; reasoning – legislature wants
to use these funds to give tax breaks. Hoping for a bonding bill this year
(session ends in May).

·KC
discussed a bill that she would like feedback on. When someone commits a crime
that requires a geographic restriction, breaking the restriction would go back
to being an enforcement tool (parole violation). The City says that this helps
the neighborhood (safer).

·Other
discussion:

oCity laws regarding minimum wage,
sick leave, etc. are being curtailed by bills that would restrict cities from
making these laws.

oA bill to take away the Prairie
Island created fund and others created to advance solar and wind power, and
move it into an “energy” fund.

oThe real ID bill. MN has been one
of the few states that have refused to join this program. The feds are moving
toward this as a requirement by 2028. This impacts legislation affecting
issuance of undocumented driver’s licenses.

oMN AG and Washington Judge issued
an order that stopped the Trump ban on immigrants which was successful.

oCreate a special fund to assist
homeowners who want to insulate their homes but have asbestos in their walls or
attic.

oEfforts to “wipe out” state environmental
regulations.

oHow to protect/help homeowners
with lead-pipe plumbing.

oSeeking funding for four “urban agriculture”
projects, including the Roof Depot site.

8:40 EPIC needs New Board Members

Applications on line at EPIC website: www.eastphillips-epic.com. Turn in
completed application forms to any EPIC board member

10:00Introductions:

·Laura is still
owner of her home in East Phillips, and is not required to resign.

·Letter from NCEC stated that NCEC passed a motion
“not to offer a decision” on the grievance brought forth by Mr. Green against
the East Phillips improvement Coalition. The result of the motion passing
upholds the findings of NCR per letter from David Rubedor (Jan. 2016). EPIC
will respond to the decision noting that NCEC failed in its response by
upholding an NCR letter from January 2016, leaving the impression that EPIC has
not completed or responded to the requirements of the letter from David
Rubedor. In fact, the review of EPIC called for in Mr. Rubedor’s letter was
completed and EPIC satisfied the requirements of the grievances, according to
NCR staff Michelle Chavez. EPIC will request that Michelle make a written
report and that a copy of that report be forwarded to NCEC and EPIC. EPIC also
will request that NCEC keep EPIC informed on the progress of their revamping of
the NCEC grievance policy.

MOTION: Change the name of our monthly meeting henceforth
from EPIC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING, to EPIC COMMUNITY MEETING. MG, JB,
Approved.

·Hiawatha Campus
Open House-Saturday, Feb. 11th, 10:00 am -11:30 am, East Phillips Park, Informational meeting about the Hiawatha Campus Expansion
at the site formerly known as the Roof Depot site. Please join City of Mpls.
Staff, CM Cano and Representative Clark to share ideas; community should be
engaged in this project.

10:30Crime update

LD reported that her neighbor called
very upset that the person who is running Jimmy’s auto repair shop had accosted
her as she arrived home from work. He ran at her yelling and threatening to sue
her. He blamed her for the Meter (ticketing) officer coming the previous day
about the fact that his client cars are sitting on the block for many
days.

Many neighbors feel that he is
taking up all the parking on the street and have seen him moving cars around to
avoid the 3-day rule. His own lot is filled with “stuff” and is the reason cars
aren’t parked there instead of on the street. Some neighbors report that he
pours out chemicals into the street and “washes” them away from his property.

Resident should attempt to file a
police report. Resident could apply for a restraining order. EPIC has heard
complaints about the parking problems for years; it is not okay to harass or
threaten the community.

MOTION: EPIC will send a letter to the business owner.
EPIC will send a letter to CM Cano’s office. EPIC will send a letter to the
property owner. JB, LD, Approved.

EPIC is working with a group of people to have an impact on
the design and function of this site, for the benefit of our diverse community.

·Karen
Clark, Bill in the Legislature

·Dean
Dovolis, experience, helped EPIC many times in the past, already been working
on this with CM Cano, with Karen Clark, in planning meetings

oEPIC has the money to hire a
professional

oConsultant Dean Dovolis was
approved for review and future vote at the previous board meeting of November
10th,.

oWrite a contract with Dean to continue
doing the work; one aspect of the community engagement

·Little
Earth

·Greg Goeke,
has helped EPIC in the past, found a grant for $40,000 planning for solar on
the roof.

·CM Cano

oRubedor, NCR

oChristina

oCity Council is the biggest
roadblock

·Public works

oEveryone knows of the terrible
traffic, pollution

oCity has missed some steps; public
works has not engaged, it has been a challenge for NCR to do it

oEPIC needs to be its own voice

10:35Grievance
Update

Updated during announcements

10:40CIF Grant
Update- Letter

EPIC was instructed by Bob Cooper
to contact Sunny, who told EPIC to communicate with Fran.EPIC’s goal is to ensure that CIF
funds reach Little Earth.

EPIC will receive a letter from
Irene (CEO) providing Carrie A to serve as the liaison for Little Earth in
terms of community engagement and contact point for any grants.

Fire at Little Earth. The Gym is
now full of donations, and basketball teams are not able to practice. There are
8 teams. Can EPIC support the Phillips
Community Center giving gym time to these teams? Two days last week the whole
building was closed for construction. During the week, mornings are available.
Need to talk to Anthony (Exec. Dir.) and ask him. Little Earth will also check
with Augsburg.

MOTION: Provide up to $999 for rental of a gym space for
3-4 weeks. MG, JB, Approved.

What are the neighborhood
priorities for 2017?EPIC will carry forward our same
priorities, adding funds to the plans.

Will EPIC provide documentation
for the community at our next meeting?We are trying, but we are trying
to accomplish many things, as well as having to address issues with grievances,
and bylaws.

11:45New Board member and Bylaws

EPIC has three open positions on
the board. The Annual Meeting will be in April and three director’s terms will
expire.

CA requested the number of Little
Earth residents who attended meetings in the past year, as well as the total
number of votes cast at the 2016 Annual meeting.

EPIC continues to work on Bylaws
updates.

SEND TO JOLENE ET AL:BylawsPolicies and proceduresRoof Depot proposal

12:07Welna Building
Lease and Restore. Visit??

EPIC needs a small office if we
are to hire staff.and has considered many options both in the past and just recently.
We had a lease with Welna for awhile and inspected the structural issues to
determine whether the site would serve EPIC and meet requirements. EPIC would
like to raise the funds to make the office accessible.

MOTION: EPIC will secure a lease for the downstairs unit
of 2433 Bloomington Ave. S. for up to $900/month as a temporary EPIC office
until it either finds the funding to make it accessible or finds an alternate
location for an EPIC office. The Board will ring this to the membership for
approval. JB, LD.

Ideas: lots of bicycle parking
space; engage community in design/function.